As of Monday, there were 247 fewer names on that list. According to Sue Britton, general counsel for the state Personnel Cabinet, the most recent tally for full-time state employees is 35,561.

Fletcher has said he doesn't plan to use mass lay-offs or furloughs as a way of easing state budget problems, choosing to operate on the theory money can be saved through attrition.

He has said there are plenty of dollars to be save by simply not filling the nearly 1,000 positions left vacant every year when people retire or move to jobs outside state government.

Fletcher also implemented a hiring freeze for all state jobs as one of his first acts in office. The freeze can be circumvented if agencies can justify to the Personnel Cabinet why a particular position should be filled.